Thomas Russell Ltd Round Enamel

Thomas Russell Ltd enamel tray dating from the early 1920s. In 1871 Thomas Russell joined William Butler as a partners of Butler's Priestfield Brewery in Bilston, Wolverhampton. When the Company moved to its new Springfield Brewery in Wolverhampton in 1874, the relationship progressively deteriorated between Thomas Russell and William Butler when Thomas started to develop a separate commercial interest whilst still working at the Springfield Brewery. In 1876 the partnership was dissolved and Thomas founded his own business in 1877. He built the Great Western Brewery on Great Western Street in Wolverhampton and in 1883 it became fully operational. Thomas Russell became a direct competitor with William Butler & Co. infuriating William Butler after poaching a few of his employees. The Company was registered as Thomas Russell Ltd in 1900. In early 1932 William Butler took his revenge and acquired Thomas Russell Ltd, its Great Western Brewery, and 14 tied houses. He immediately closed the business, stripped the brewing equipment, and put the building up for sale at an auction held on 8th June 1932.